Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. graduated with first-class honors from the University of Queensland with degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience and medicine, while he worked as a circus acrobat and held world records in high diving and the trampoline. He went to Stanford University as a Fulbright scholar and passed licensing exams in medicine, psychology, and psychiatry before moving to the University of California at Irvine where he is currently professor of psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology. His initial research and writings, in the area of neuroscience, received multiple national and international awards. Dr. Walsh’s publications include Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices and The World of Shamanism.  He coedited several books including Gifts from A Course in Miracles and Paths Beyond Ego: The Transpersonal Vision.